The One Remaining is a compelling debut novel about the silences that shape us and the power of reclaiming our stories.
When her older sister vanishes without a trace, thirteen-year-old Hilary Mason is left with unanswered questions and buried suspicions.
Decades later, now a successful novelist, Hilary uncovers her teenage diaries and begins writing a memoir — a journey that will unravel everything she thought she knew about her family, herself, and the nature of memory.
This is a tender, beautifully crafted novel about grief, guilt, resilience, and the redemptive force of writing.
Contemporary, Literary, Grief
About The Author
Paula McLean is a writer, arts philanthropist and advocate for gender equity in Australian literature.
A long-time supporter and former board member of the Stella Prize, Paula is deeply invested in platforming women’s voices and challenging structural bias in publishing.
The One Remaining is her luminous debut novel — a work of literary fiction that explores the legacy of grief, the slipperiness of memory, and the healing potential of storytelling.
With a background in literature and a career that has spanned writing, philanthropy, and cultural advocacy, Paula brings both narrative precision and emotional depth to her work.
Her writing is concerned with the hidden narratives of women’s lives — the quiet ruptures, unresolved losses, and everyday acts of resilience that shape who we become.
